Derivatives trading hits record high in 2011

Growth mainly took place in single stock options and futures, as well as in exchange-traded-fund options

By

Michelle Price

March 2, 2012 Updated: 12:32 a.m. GMT

Trading of derivative contracts on regulated exchanges worldwide reached its highest level on record in 2011, following a year in which extreme volatility, brought about by the European sovereign debt crisis, saw markets slump.

Statistics released yesterday by the World Federation of Exchanges, the global exchange association showed that more than 24 billion derivatives contracts were traded on exchanges in 2011, versus 22 billion in...